This is the first picture of the man blasted to death in a gangland hit in west Dublin on Saturday night.

The dead man, named locally as Eric Fowler, who was in his 30’s, received a devastating gun shot wound to the head in the teatime shooting at 6.50pm.

Gardai and medics fought to save his life but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Eric Fowler

A source said: “This was a trademark gangland murder – he was blasted in the head and died almost instantly.

“Gardai were on high alert in recent days as there was intelligence of a planned spree of bloodshed – armed patrols had been upped in the city.

“Eric Fowler has a long track record of involvement with criminal gangs and it is believed he was the intended target of the hit – investigations will determine a motive in the coming days.”

There are a number of theories at the moment as to the motive for the callous pre-Christmas murder.

Fowler had links to a lot of different factions – he was involved in the harbouring of Imre Arakas who came to Ireland to kill members of the Hutch family.

He was also related, although at a remove, to the Hutch family.

Gardai at the scene where a man was shot in the head and died from his injuries. (Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie)

He was linked to a major player in West Dublin gangland who is suspected of having involvement in a number of gangland murders.

A source also said: “It was also mentioned in recent weeks that he had taken on a number of drug debts from others and maybe he wasn’t getting back the money. “He may have been pushing these people very hard to recoup the cash – this may have been the cause.

“His links with the West Dublin gangster is also a possible motive too given that man is out of the picture at the moment.

“There are a lot of moving parts in terms of possible suspects but information will emerge in the next 24 hours.

“There are also suspicions on a gangster in Finglas.”

A Garda spokesman confirmed that the shooting took place in the Blakestown area of West Dublin.

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HE said: "Gardaí form Blanchardstown and emergency services are at the scene of a shooting at Blakestown Cottages, Blanchardstown this evening the 22nd of December 2018.

"The shooting occurred at approximately 6.50pm."

Associates of Fowler were suspected of involvement in the murder of Caine Kirwan McCormack also – the son of Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan who was murdered by the Kinahan Organsed Crime Group.

One of the pals of Fowler was also the intended target when innocent Dad-of-two Keith Walker, 36, was shot eight times in a case of mistaken identity in Clonsilla, Dublin in 2016.